4/5 NABX 9.5 Montana 3

[mike loeser]

I got some rides in down at the NABX. Interesting event. A bunch of pyscho buggy kiters. Kind of like a burning man version for kites. Watch the buggys launch an 8 ft ramp. Never tried it on the mountain board, kind of wish I had. Weird to hear a kite behind your head and see a buggy leave you in the dust. Some had speeds of 58 mph. I've a new appreciation for that sport. Always thought it was sort of lame. The ground at the lake bed isn't as nice as what we have here at Burmies. Have to get out there and see how things are. It has to be much warmer for me to head out to Rush, plus I still need to get some new water kites. Only have the 10m as of right now. Still pisses me off to think they got stolen.
Mike L.

[Mark Johnson]

By the way, did you get any rides at SPI?
I have a 15m 05 yarga you are welcome to use if you show up out at Rush.

[windzup]

Hey Mike, Missed you down there! I was out buggying most of the weekend, playing not working Had a good time camping from Friday thru Sunday, big crew with lots of night life and night buggying.
Would have been fun to get out and chase each other around on buggies, there was a couple fun games of buggy tag... I wonder if we can cross that over to the water... or would kitesurfers want to chase eachother down at high speeds to tag the next guy?

Buggying is what it is, but for the kite sport community, it is the fastest wind vehicle around, and scary as hell cuz your ass is only inches off the deck... Good fun glad you made it out!

Windzup,
Brian

[mike loeser]

Brian,
I only got to hit it on Sat. The wind didn't come up until late, so rode from about 4 till dark. I was at the north end of the lineup. Were you hitting the ramp? I would've loved to try a the buggy. I guess a 9.5 m would be a bit much. Most of the buggies I saw had 3m kites and they were hauling.

Mark,
Padre was nice. I guess later in the season would be a better time to go though. I had two full days of riding in a shorty, no cold hands with a bit of a sunburn. Some guys were out in bordys, others with a full suit and gloves. The winds were up in the 50 mph range the first day and then had a day of offshore. Two out of four isn't bad. My wife was a good sport and sat out in the South flats parking lot. It wasn't so scenic, but she wasn't up for getting in the water anyway. Padre was like Lincoln beach, but endless. There were some weird spots way out there where the wind was dead. I would definitely go back. Closest flat water spot I know of that has that warm of water in the winter.
I also found some lines and bladder nipples in your body bag. I'll get them to you. Thanks for the offer on the Yarga. I hope to get another 14m before it warms up enough for me.

Mike L.

[btjsfca]

Hey, Mike. Sorry I couldn't have been there for the main event. I had to go down the previous weekend. Pulled up Sunday to winds gusting to the 30s, and only a few buggiers standing around wondering if a 1.5m foil or a 1.2m foil was the call. They are a different crowd, those buggy nuts. But they rock. This was my 4th year, and I understand why they all call each other a family. But, it may be hard to notice that vibe if you're only there for the Big Weekend. It does get a bit overwhelming, and it's hard to get to know people.

I'll agree with you on the surface. Burmies is butter, Ivanpah is a crusty scab. The lakebed was in worse shape this year than last. Combined with my bald tires, I wasn't able to really get velocity if I wanted to keep skin on my face. But, it's a nice warm-up for the local spring season. Still seems a ways off. Waiting for that week of solid 80+ degrees to dry out the mud. When it does go off, you've got my number.

-J